Import Pool

ZFS pool importing works for pools exported or disconnected from the current system, those created on another system, and for pools you reconnect after reinstalling or upgrading the TrueNAS system.

The import procedure only applies to disks with a ZFS storage pool.
TrueNAS supports pool imports using the WebUI or API only. Manual pool import via command line can cause unexpected behavior and system issues.
Do I need to do anything different with disks installed on a different system? When physically installing ZFS pool disks from another system, use the zpool export poolname command in the Linux command line or a web interface equivalent to export the pool on that system. Shut down that system and move the drives to the TrueNAS system. Shutting down the original system prevents an in use by another machine error during the TrueNAS import.

To import a pool, go to the Storage Dashboard and click Import Pool at the top of the screen.

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Configuring ACL Permissions

TrueNAS provides basic permissions settings and an access control list (ACL) editor to define dataset permissions. ACL permissions control the actions users can perform on dataset contents and shares.

An Access Control List (ACL) is a set of account permissions associated with a dataset that applies to directories or files within that dataset. TrueNAS uses ACLs to manage user interactions with shared datasets. When you create a dataset, TrueNAS sets the ACL type based on the dataset preset, but you must configure the ACL before it becomes active.

ACL Types in TrueNAS

TrueNAS offers two ACL types: POSIX and NFSv4. The Dataset Preset setting on the Add Dataset screen determines the type of ACL for the dataset. Datasets created with the Generic dataset preset have the ACL type set to a POSIX (Unix) ACL. Datasets created with the SMB dataset preset have the ACL type set to an NFSv4 ACL. SMB shares require the more robust configurations in an NFSv4 ACL. For most cases, a POSIX ACL is all you need. If you want the more granular ACL controls in the NFSv4 ACL, you can create a dataset using the SMB dataset preset without creating an SMB share, or you can use the ACL Type option on the Add Dataset > Advanced Options screen to change a dataset using the Generic preset from a POSIX to NFSv4 ACL. For a more in-depth explanation of ACLs and configurations in TrueNAS, see our ACL Primer.

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Creating Pools

TrueNAS uses ZFS data storage pools to efficiently store and protect data.

What is a pool?

Storage pools attach drives organized into virtual devices called VDEVs. Drives arranged inside VDEVs provide varying amounts of redundancy and performance. ZFS and VDEVs combined create high-performance pools that maximize data lifetime.

ZFS and TrueNAS periodically review and heal when discovering a bad block in a pool.

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Encrypting Datasets

TrueNAS offers ZFS encryption for your sensitive data in datasets and zvols.

Users are responsible for backing up and securing encryption keys and passphrases! Losing the ability to decrypt data is similar to a catastrophic data loss.

Data-at-rest encryption is available with:

The local TrueNAS system manages keys for data-at-rest. Users are responsible for storing and securing their keys. TrueNAS includes the Key Management Interface Protocol (KMIP).

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Pools

TrueNAS pools are ZFS storage containers that combine physical disks to provide storage capacity and data protection.

Contents

  • Import Pool: Provides information on ZFS importing for storage pools in TrueNAS. It also addresses GELI-encrypted pools.

    • Creating Pools: Provides background considerations and a simple tutorial on creating storage pools in TrueNAS.

      • Creating Fusion Pools: Provides information on setting up and using fusion pools.

        • Managing Pools: Provides instructions on managing storage pools, VDEVs, and disks in TrueNAS.

          • Pool Creation Wizard Screen: Descriptions for settings and functions found in the Pool Creation Wizard.

            • VDEV Screens: Provides information on settings and functions found on the VDEVs screens and widget.

              Creating Fusion Pools

              Fusion Pools are also known as ZFS allocation classes, ZFS special vdevs, and metadata vdevs (Metadata vdev type on the Pool Manager screen).

              What is a special VDEV? A special VDEV can store metadata such as file locations and allocation tables. The allocations in the special class are dedicated to specific block types. By default, this includes all metadata, the indirect blocks of user data, and any deduplication tables. The class can also be provisioned to accept small file blocks. This is a great use case for high-performance but smaller-sized solid-state storage. Using a special vdev drastically speeds up random I/O and cuts the average spinning-disk I/Os needed to find and access a file by up to half.

              Creating a Fusion Pool

              On the Storage Dashboard, click Create Pool, or click Add To Pool, then select New Pool.

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              SLOG Over-Provisioning

              TrueNAS Enterprise

              Over-provisioning an SSD distributes the total number of writes and erases across more flash blocks on the drive. Seagate provides a thoughtful investigation into over-provisioning SSDs here: https://www.seagate.com/blog/ssd-over-provisioning-benefits-master-ti/.

              For more general information on SLOG disks, see SLOG Devices.

              Because this is a potentially disruptive procedure, contact TrueNAS Enterprise Support to review your overprovisioning needs and schedule a maintenance window.

              Customers who purchase TrueNAS hardware or that want additional support must have a support contract to use TrueNAS Support Services. The TrueNAS Community forums provides free support for users without a TrueNAS Support contract.

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              Managing Pools

              The Storage Dashboard widgets provide enhanced storage provisioning capabilities and access to pool management options to keep the pool and disks healthy, upgrade pools and VDEVs, open datasets, snapshots, and data protection screens. This article provides instructions on pool management functions available in the TrueNAS UI.

              Setting Up Auto TRIM

              Select Storage on the main navigation panel to open the Storage Dashboard. To see if the AutoTRIM function is enabled, locate the Storage Health widget for the pool.

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              Storage Dashboard Screens

              The Storage Dashboard screen allows users to configure and manage storage resources such as pools (VDEVs) and disks. The dashboard widgets organize functions related to storage resources.

              No Pools Screen

              The No Pools screen displays before you add the first pool.

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              Configuring Advanced Settings

              Advanced Settings provides configuration options for the console, syslog, kernel, sysctl, replication, cron jobs, init/shutdown scripts, system dataset pool, isolated GPU device(s), self-encrypting drives, system access sessions, allowed IP addresses, audit logging, and global two-factor authentication.

              TrueNAS Enterprise
              Enterprise-licensed system administrators have additional options to configure security-related settings, such as FIPS and STIG compatibility and Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) configuration.

              Advanced settings have reasonable defaults in place. A warning message displays for some settings advising of the dangers of making changes. Changing advanced settings can be dangerous when done incorrectly. Use caution before saving changes.

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